Daily GK Updates - 8th March, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Fitch maintains India’s growth forecast at 7.5%: Fitch, the global rating agency has maintained India’s growth forecast at 7.5% for the 2015-16 fiscal year and also sees higher growth around 7.7% and 7.9% over the next two financial years.

2. E-Haat; an online marketing platform launched by Union Government: Union Minster for Women and Child Development Maneka Sanjay Gandhi launched Mahila e-Haat portal in New Delhi to facilitate women entrepreneurs to sell their products to buyers. The Mahila e-Haat portal, www.mahilaehaat-rmk.gov.in is an online marketing platform.

3. PM Modi selects another village in Varanasi for development under SAGY: SansadAdarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) is a rural development programme broadly focusing upon the development in the villages which includes social development, cultural development and spread motivation among the people on social mobilisation of the village community. PM Modi has adopted Nagepur village in Varanasi under the scheme. He had earlier adopted Jayapur village in the same Varanasi constituency.

4. Government to import 8500 tonnes of pulses: Government has contracted import of 8500 tonnes of pulses and the shipments are on the way. The step is taken to maintain the buffer stock as the target of 50000 tonnes set for this kharif season has been surpassed. 

5. Union Government announced to withdraw tax proposal Employee Provident Fund: Union Finance Minister ArunJaitley announced to withdraw the proposal while clarifying NDA government’s stand on the issue in the LokSabha.

6. Indian Railways signs agreement with Bajaj Power: Bajaj Power Generation Company has signed an agreement with the Indian Railways for electrification of the Lalitpur-Udaipura rail section under the public private partnership (PPP).

7. Countdown for launch of India’s 6^th navigational satellite IRNSS-1F begins in Sriharikota: ISRO’s workhorse PSLV-C32 will lift off at 4pm on Thursday.

8. Union Government re-classified industries on four-colour scheme based on pollution potential: The four colours are red, orange, green and white with red categories industries having the highest pollution potential while white having the least.

9. New species of burrowing snake named MelanophidiumKhairei discovered in Western Ghats.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. International Women’s Day observed with campaign theme ‘PledgeForParity’: International Women’s day was observed across the world on 8^th March 2016. This year’s theme for the day is ‘Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step it up for Gender Equality’. The campaign theme for the day is #PledgeForParity.

2. SoftBank splits into two subsidiaries: The firm has said that it is planning to separate its profitable domestic mobile business from its international business, which includes a majority stake in US mobile operator Sprint Corp. Both the subsidiaries will be 100% owned by SoftBank. 

3. South Korea, US began largest ever military exercises off the coast of the Korean peninsula: The bilateral exercise comes just days after the UN passed new sanctions against Pyongyang, North Korea following its recent nuclear test and rocket launch.

4. France’s highest honour ‘Legion d’Honneur’ was presented to Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Nayef by President Francois Hollande. 

5. Women at Work: Trends 2016 report released by International Labour Organisation.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. Banks disburse over Rs 1.15 lakh crore under PM Mudra Yojana: Banks have so far disbursed over Rs 1.15 lakh crore under PradhanMantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY).

SPORTS:

2. Maria Sharapova provisionally suspended after failing drugs test at Australian Open.

3. Australian Golfer Adam Scott won 2016 WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral, Florida (US).

4. Sri Lankan Cricket Board constituted Arvinda de Silva-led National Cricket Selection Panel.